Philipsburg:--- Ten Members representing the Parliament of St. Maarten along with Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams signed a political accord “Working for the People” on Friday morning to form what can be considered the first broad based government of St. Maarten. The signing took place at the A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall shortly after 9am on Friday morning. Members of the GOA witnessed the signing of the agreement. While MPs Hyacinth Richardson and Petrus Leroy de Weever signed the agreement in absentia since they could not be present on Friday morning.
The Members of Parliament that signed the document are William Marlin, Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Hyacinth Richardson, George Pantophlet, Louis Laviest (National Alliance Faction) Frans Richardson, Patrick Illidge, Romaine La Ville (Independent Members of Parliament) Roy Marlin and Petrus Leroy de Weever (DP Faction) and Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams.
The signing came just one day after Governor Eugene Holiday appointed both William Marlin and Sarah Wescot-Williams as the formateurs to form the government.
Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams said the political accord they all signed and delivered to the governor indicated that the various political parties represented in parliament has found common ground to form the next government of St. Maarten and it is their desire to continue working for the remainder of the term 2010 -2014. Leader of the National Alliance and Member of Parliament William Marlin said since the Prime Minister submitted the resignation of the UP/DP cabinet on Tuesday the process to install a new government started. Marlin said the governor held consultations with the chairlady of Parliament, the leaders of the various political parties, the faction leaders in parliament as well as with the three independent members of parliament. Marlin explained that the meetings resulted in the Governor appointing two formateurs for the formation of the new government. Marlin said they worked diligently and concluded the governing accord with the party leaders that are supporting the new government. Marlin further explained that after the signed accord was submitted to the Governor the secret services of St. Maarten will be conducting the screening and vetting of the candidates that will be occupying the Ministerial seats. Those persons to be vetted are Silveria Jacobs and Romeo Pantophlet. Silveria Jacobs will be appointed Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Affairs while Romeo Pantophlet will appointed Minister of Economic Affairs and Tourism. The screening process he said will take a week to ten days and as soon that is completed the new broad based government will be sworn in.
Marlin said the new and incoming government will focus on reducing cost of living on St. Maarten since the people of St. Maarten need government's assistance now more than ever. Marlin said they formed a team of parliamentarians whose primary goal are the people of St. Maarten. This team he said will ensure that cost of living is reduced in the form of reducing the price of electricity, cooking gas, and gasoline. Marlin said this new government will also focus on getting the boys off the block that are getting involved in criminal activities. Government’s intention is to get these young men in the job market and to provide sustainable and meaningful employment. He said government will also concentrate on the abuse of the short term labour agreements that they are aiming to put an end to. Marlin did not unleash the governing program they are to finalize within a 90-day period but gave a clear indication as to where the focus of the government will be for the next two years. Focus will be placed on district improvements, education, safety, economy, the environment, infrastructure, health care, social welfare, and housing.
Governor Holiday engaged in two days of discussion with the Members of Parliament and Prime Minister after he received the official resignation from the Ministers from the United Peoples Party on Tuesday. While the UP Ministers only tendered their resignation on Tuesday last, the UP/DP government fell on April 27th 2012 when the three Independent Members of Parliament made their un-official declaration in Festival Village to save the people of St. Maarten from the current crisis they are facing. Letters were sent to the Prime Minister and Governor of St. Maarten since early last week informing that the UP/DP coalition had collapsed and that a new government has been formed. However, the process could not have moved forward unless the UP Ministers tendered their resignation. It should be noted that since St. Maarten became a country in October 2010, this is the first government to have the required two thirds majority in Parliament that consists of Members from all fractions.
Several political pundits said that they are of the opinion that St. Maarten will head in the right direction now because the two main leaders of the island is now at the helm of the government. It should be noted that Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams led the political delegation for ten years during the Constitutional talks while William Marlin was also present during the discussions. Marlin however, finalized the discussions after he led the delegation for a mere year and half.
Click here to view more photos of the political accord signing on Friday.
A copy of the political agreement signed on Friday morning reads as follows:--
NA/DP/I-3 GOVERNING ACCORD
"Working For the People"
The political leaders of the National Alliance and the Democratic Party of St. Maarten, William V. Marlin and Sarah A. Wescot-Williams respectively,
And the undersigned members of the Parliament of St. Maarten, Patrick Illidge, Frans Richardson, Romain Laville, George Pantophlet, Hyacinth Richardson, Lloyd Richardson, Louie Laveist, Roy Marlin, Leroy de Weever, representing a majority of 10 seats in the Parliament of St. Maarten and hereinafter referred to as "The Parties"
Considering:
Their expressed desire to work together in the interest of St. Maarten following the loss of support for the UP/DP government by a parliamentary majority:
Hereby declare to have reached an agreement in principle on the formation of the next government of St. Maarten and further declare that:
Central to this agreement is a government that is tuned to the needs of the residents of our country; cognizant of the importance of a sustainable development; respectful of the diversity of persons residing here harmoniously; and committed to improving the lives of all citizens through a balanced approach of job creation, enabling entrepreneurship and a social system that is efficient, cost-effective and responsive.
This agreement in entered into for the remainder of the governing period, 2010 – 2014.
Parties agree that the National Alliance shall designate 3 Ministers, viz. the Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Education.
The Democratic Party shall designate two (2) ministers, viz. the Prime Minister/Minister of General Affairs and the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour.
Independent Members Richardson and Laville will jointly designate the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunication and Independent member Illidge shall designate the Minister of Justice.
The substitution for these Ministers shall be regulated as follows:
For the Prime Minister/Minister of General Affairs, the Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure;
For the Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister/Minister of General Affairs
For the Minister of Education, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour;
For the Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Education
For the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Finance
For the Minister of Housing, the Minister of Economic Affairs
For the Minister of Public Health, the Minister of Justice.
Parties further agree that the National Alliance will designate the Chairperson of Parliament of St. Maarten, Independent member Laville will serve as the deputy Chairperson and the Democratic Party will designate the Second Deputy Chairperson of Parliament of St. Maarten;
Parties further agree that The Democratic Party shall designate the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague and the National Alliance shall designate the Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary.
The Ministers of Government shall be called upon to work diligently to avoid any disruption as a result of the change in government and call upon the civil service to aid in this endeavor.
Of paramount importance are the prudent management of government finances and the preparations for the drafting of the budget 2013. Large scale programs such as the reform of our fiscal system and the general health insurance must be provided all the necessary resources to be concluded within 180 days.
Parties recognize the urgent need for implementation of ordinances, decreed by several organic laws and for redefining parts of the government structure. Transparency and a reduction of bureaucracy are vital components of this redefinition.
As part of its social development programs, focus will be on specific target groups, such as the elderly, the disabled and the youth.
The undersigned signatories to this declaration jointly and individually pledge their full support to carry out the provisions of this declaration to the fullest extent possible.
Parties commit themselves to establish a Governing Program for the Government of St. Maarten within 90 days after taking office and which will be based on the following premises and principles:
The NA/DP/I-3 governing program shall include a Plan of Action that shall set forth the projects and programs to be carried out as priorities of the Government of St. Maarten for the remainder of the 2010-2014 governing term, the duration and cost of these projects and the financing modalities.
The following areas of initial concentration are being highlighted and shall be further developed in the Action Plan:
DISTRICT IMPROVEMENTS
EDUCATION
SAFETY
ECONOMY
THE ENVIRONMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE
HEALTH CARE
SOCIAL WELFARE
HOUSING
There shall be coalition meetings of the Members of Parliament supporting the government and shall further include all the Ministers. William Marlin shall be the chairman of the coalition meetings and in his absence Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams will chair the meeting.
Coalition meetings shall be held every fortnight and or prior to public meetings of the Parliament.
The coalition shall meet on all important and key issues and matters confronting the government of St. Maarten or the execution of the governing accord.
Parties shall inform the Governor of St. Maarten, the Governments of the Kingdom, Curacao and Aruba, as well as the Governments of the BES Islands of this declaration.
Neither party, the signatories hereto nor any members or functionary of the parties hereto shall do anything to hinder, disturb, frustrate or impede the execution of this accord, agreements or actions resulting from this accord.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF parties have placed their signatures on this 11th day of May, 2012.
_______________ ___________________ _____________ _______________
William V. Marlin Sarah Wescot-Williams, Patrick Illidge, Frans Richardson,
_____________ ___________________ __________________
Romain Laville, George Pantophlet, Hyacinth Richardson,
_______________ _____________ _____________ _________________
Lloyd Richardson Louie Laveist, Roy Marlin, Petrus L. de Weever,
